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1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season (won Cup)

NHL team season (won Cup)

FieldValue
LeagueNHL
Season1991–92
year1991
TeamPittsburgh Penguins
ConferenceWales
ConferenceRank4th
DivisionPatrick
DivisionRank3rd
Record39–32–9
HomeRecord21–13–6
RoadRecord18–19–3
GoalsFor343
GoalsAgainst308
GeneralManagerCraig Patrick
CoachScotty Bowman
CaptainMario Lemieux
AltCaptainBob Errey
Kevin Stevens
Bryan Trottier
ArenaCivic Arena
Attendance15,993
GoalsLeaderKevin Stevens (54)
AssistsLeaderMario Lemieux (87)
PointsLeaderMario Lemieux (131)
PlusMinusLeaderLarry Murphy (+33)
PIMLeaderKevin Stevens (252)
WinsLeaderTom Barrasso (25)
GAALeaderTom Barrasso (3.53)
ConferenceWinYes
StanleyCupYes

Kevin Stevens Bryan Trottier

The 1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 25th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was coming off of its first-ever Stanley Cup victory in 1990–91, as they defeated the Chicago Black Hawks in the Finals in six games. The Penguins, along with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, had five 30-goal scorers. Seven players and three off-ice staff members from the 1991-92 team's year-end roster have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Off-season

In the off-season, Head Coach Bob Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer, forcing him to step down, where the Penguins brought in former St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres head coach Scotty Bowman to replace Johnson. Bowman had previously led the Canadiens to five Stanley Cup championships in the 1970s. Johnson lost his battle to cancer on November 26, 1991, and the Penguins honored him by wearing a patch on the left sleeve of their jersey with his nickname "Badger" written on it along with his birth year and death year.

Regular season

Pittsburgh started the season off very well, and through their first 38 games, they had a record of 22–12–4, earning 48 points and fighting with the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers for first in the Division. The team, along with Mario Lemieux, who missed time due to a back injury, would slump in their next 24 games, going 5–15–4 to slide down to .500 and battling with the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers for the final playoff position in the Division. The Penguins, facing losing defenseman Paul Coffey as a free agent after the season, would deal him to the Los Angeles Kings in a move that looked like they were giving up for the season, however, they would make a move to bring some more grit to the team, acquiring Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson, Ken Wregget, and a 1993 conditional 3rd round pick from Philadelphia for Mark Recchi, Brian Benning, and a 1992 1st round pick. Pittsburgh had a 12–5–1 record to close out the season, finishing in third place in the Division and making the playoffs for the second-straight season.

Mario Lemieux led the club offensively, despite missing 16 games to injuries, as he earned an NHL-high 131 points from 44 goals and 87 assists to win the Art Ross Trophy. Kevin Stevens led the team with 54 goals and finished second in League scoring behind Lemieux with 123 points. Joe Mullen also had a solid season, as he scored 42 goals and earned 87 points, while Jaromír Jágr continued to develop, as he recorded 69 points in 70 games. Larry Murphy put up a defense-high 77 points in his first full season with the Penguins.

In goal, Tom Barrasso played the majority of the games, earning a team high 25 victories, along with a team best 3.53 goals against average (GAA), while earning a shutout for the club.

Offensively, the Penguins led the NHL in scoring, with 343 goals for.

On October 29, 1991, the Penguins were shut out at home 8–0 by the Washington Capitals. It was the first time the Penguins had been shut-out in a regular season game since January 2, 1989, when they coincidentally lost 8–0 on the road also to the Capitals. Prior to their home loss against the Caps, the Penguins had gone 211 consecutive regular season games without being shut-out.

Sale to Baldwin and Belzberg

Although owner Edward DeBartolo, Sr. had enjoyed his team winning the Stanley Cup, the elder DeBartolo sought to sell the Penguins, but did not have a deal in place prior to the start of the season. Minnesota North Stars co-owners Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg had sold their stakes in that team to fellow co-owner Norman Green following a dispute between the owners, with Baldwin having sold his interest in August and Belzberg selling off in October. Baldwin and Belzberg partnered together to purchase the Penguins, and the NHL approved the deal on November 18, 1991.

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- | 1 || 4 || 7:35 PM || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || 6 || 7:35 PM || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–0–1 || 3 |- | 3 || 10 || 7:35 PM || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 2–0–1 || 5 |- | 4 || 12 || 7:45 PM || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || New Jersey Devils || Brendan Byrne Arena || 2–1–1 || 5 |- | 5 || 15 || 7:35 PM || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–6 OT || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 3–1–1 || 7 |- | 6 || 17 || 7:35 PM || New York Islanders || 5–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–1–1 || 9 |- | 7 || 19 || 7:35 PM || New York Rangers || 5–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–2–1 || 9 |- | 8 || 22 || 7:35 PM || Chicago Blackhawks || 4–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–2–2 || 10 |- | 9 || 24 || 7:35 PM || New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–3–2 || 10 |- | 10 || 26 || 8:05 PM || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 4–4–2 || 10 |- | 11 || 29 || 7:35 PM || Washington Capitals || 8–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–5–2 || 10 |- | 12 || 31 || 7:35 PM || Minnesota North Stars || 1–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–5–2 || 12

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13
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77
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78
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79
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80
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-

| Legend:

Playoffs

Main article: 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs

Division Semifinals

In the playoffs, the Penguins would open up against the Washington Capitals, who they defeated in the second round in the previous season en route to the Stanley Cup championship. The Capitals finished the season 11 points ahead of Pittsburgh, and had home ice for the series. Washington would open the series up with two solid victories at home, however, Pittsburgh responded with a Game 3 victory to cut the Caps series lead in half. Washington would demolish the Penguins in the fourth game, going up 3–1 in the series, and returning home in hopes of closing it out. Pittsburgh had no trouble beating the Capitals in Game 5, winning 5–2, and evened the series up at home in Game 6 with a 6–4 win. In the seventh and deciding game of the series, Tom Barrasso would step up, allowing only one goal as Pittsburgh won the final game by a 3–1 scoreline to upset the favored Capitals and complete the series comeback.

Division Finals

Up next was the Patrick Division-winning New York Rangers, who had 18 more points than Pittsburgh during the regular season. Pittsburgh would surprise the Rangers with a 4–2 victory in the opening game, however, New York tied the series up in the second game. The Rangers took a 2–1 series lead with 6–5 overtime victory. The Penguins would tie the series up with their own overtime win in the fourth game, as the series returned to New York for the fifth game. Pittsburgh would hang on for a 3–2 victory in the fifth game, and close out the series at home with a 5–1 win, to upset the Rangers, and return to the Conference Finals.

Conference Finals

The Penguins next opponent was the Boston Bruins, who they defeated in the playoffs the previous year in six games. The Bruins had 84 points during the regular season, three less than the Penguins, giving Pittsburgh home ice advantage. The Pens opened up the series with a 4–3 overtime win, then went up 2–0 in the series with a 5–2 win, as the series would shift to Boston. The Penguins stayed hot, winning Games 3 and 4 by identical 5–1 scorelines, to sweep the Bruins, and reach the Stanley Cup finals for the second-straight season.

Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1992 Stanley Cup Finals

Pittsburgh had to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in hopes of a second-straight Stanley Cup. The Hawks finished the season with 87 points, the same amount as the Penguins, but since the Pens had more wins than the Hawks (39 to 36), Pittsburgh would have home ice in the Finals. Chicago had defeated the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers en route to the Finals, entering the series with an NHL playoff record 11-game winning streak. The Penguins, however, were on their own seven-game winning streak, as they won the last three games of the Rangers series and four in the Boston series. Pittsburgh stayed hot, with a 5–4 victory in Game 1, and then defeated Chicago 3–1 in Game 2 to go up 2–0 as the series would move to Chicago Stadium. The Penguins would then shut-out Chicago 1–0 in the third game to win their tenth in a row, with Pittsburgh finishing off the sweep after a 6–5 Game 4 win, tying the Blackhawks' NHL playoff record with their own 11th-straight win as they would become the first team since the 1986–87 and 1987–88 Edmonton Oilers to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Mario Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the second straight year, as he recorded a League-high 34 points in just 15 playoff games.

Playoff log

|- | 1 || April 19||Pittsburgh||1–3||Washington|| ||Loney||Bondra, Druce, Bondra||Barrasso (0–1)||16,689||0–1|| |- | 2 || April 21||Pittsburgh||2–6||Washington|| ||Murphy, Stevens||Khristich, Bondra, Pivonka, Cote, Ciccarelli, Miller||Barrasso (0–2)||17,453||0–2|| |- | 3 || April 23||Washington||4–6||Pittsburgh|| ||Bourque, Mullen, Jagr, Lemieux (2), Lemieux (en)||Hatcher, Khristich, Iafrate, Hatcher||Barrasso (1–2)||16,164||1–2|| |- | 4 || April 25||Washington||7–2||Pittsburgh|| ||Lemieux, Trottier||Krygier, Ciccarelli, Kristich, Ciccarelli, Bondra, Ciccarelli||Barrasso (1–3)||16,164||1–3|| |- | 5 || April 27||Pittsburgh||5–2||Washington|| ||Trottier, Errey, Murphy, Jagr, Errey (en)||Krygier, Iafrate||Barrasso (2–3)||17,621||2–3|| |- | 6 || April 29||Washington||4–6||Pittsburgh|| ||Stevens (2), Mullen, Bourque, Lemieux (2)||Hunter, Bondra (2), Iafrate||Barrasso (3–3)||16,164||3–3|| |- | 7 || May 1||Pittsburgh||3–1||Washington|| ||Lemieux, Jagr, Mullen (en)||Iafrate||Barrasso (4–3)||17,783||4–3||

-
1
Stevens, Francis
-
2
King, Beukeboom (en)
-
3
King
-
4
Francis
-
5
Jagr (2)
-
6
Jagr, McEachern, Tocchet (en), Francis (en)
-
-
1
Jagr
-
2
Tocchet, Lemieux, Lemieux (en)
-
3
, Trottier, Stevens
-
4
Lemieux, Stanton, Lemieux, Michayluk
-
-
1
Lemieux
-
2
Lemieux (2)
-
3
-
4
Francis
-
-

| Legend:

  • Scorer of game-winning goal in italics

Player statistics

;Skaters

a#FCB5142px}}"Playera#FCB5142px}}"GPa#FCB5142px}}"Ga#FCB5142px}}"Aa#FCB5142px}}"Ptsa#FCB5142px}}" data-sort-type="number"+/−a#FCB5142px}}"PIMTotal343591934—1,863
6444871312794
8054691238254
774245871230
772156773348
‡5833377078
703237691234
‡54105464462
7021335430
781916351119
†191416301249
6311182954
76101626127
5810162658
73222241987
5631316416
62114152206
49281054
54281062
53459104
385498
49178036
44134757
1504410
†20123034
†1701135
10000
10002
50000175
200000
100000
a#FCB5142px}}"Playera#FCB5142px}}"GPa#FCB5142px}}"Ga#FCB5142px}}"Aa#FCB5142px}}"Ptsa#FCB5142px}}" data-sort-type="number"+/−a#FCB5142px}}"PIMTotal83132215—333
1516183462
21131528228
218192786
2111132446
1461319024
216101619
1927964
21459132
21178642
2143708
2134725
93144
19044106
1213402
15033612
14303010
2002216
21022739
1902232
711210
510102
1000012
500002

;Goaltenders

a#FCB5142px}}"Playera#FCB5142px}}"GPa#FCB5142px}}"TOIa#FCB5142px}}"Wa#FCB5142px}}"La#FCB5142px}}"Ta#FCB5142px}}"GAa#FCB5142px}}"GAAa#FCB5142px}}"SAa#FCB5142px}}"SV%a#FCB5142px}}"SOa#FCB5142px}}"Ga#FCB5142px}}"Aa#FCB5142px}}"PIMTotal4840:38393293003.7225100.88010432
573329:29252291963.5317020.88510430
18837:40760533.804760.8890000
†9448:10530314.152020.8470002
‡5225:19210205.331300.8460000
a#FCB5142px}}"Playera#FCB5142px}}"GPa#FCB5142px}}"TOIa#FCB5142px}}"Wa#FCB5142px}}"La#FCB5142px}}"Ta#FCB5142px}}"GAa#FCB5142px}}"GAAa#FCB5142px}}"SAa#FCB5142px}}"SV%a#FCB5142px}}"SOa#FCB5142px}}"Ga#FCB5142px}}"Aa#FCB5142px}}"PIMTotal1272:591650622.926380.9031024
211232:591650583.006220.9071024
140:0000041.55160.7500000

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 900 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–6 loss to Hartford on November 2.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 400 goals for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–6 loss to Toronto on March 14.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 1000 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–4 loss to Detroit on March 24.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 600 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–3 win over Vancouver on March 26.
  • Paul Coffey established franchise records for goals (108) assists (332) and points (440) by a defenseman. He had set record for each category within the previous two seasons.

Awards

a#FCB5142px}}"Playerstyle="color:white; background:#000000; "Award
Phil Bourque
Mario Lemieux
Troy Loney
Joe Mullen
Larry Murphy
Jim Paek
Kevin Stevens

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season:

Trades

March 10, 1992To [Hartford Whalers](1991-92-hartford-whalers-season)To Pittsburgh Penguins

Free agents

a#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Playera#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Acquired froma#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Lost toa#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Date
Kim IsselVancouver CanucksAugust 1, 1991
Barry PedersonHartford WhalersSeptember 5, 1991

Signings

a#FCB5142px}} width:30%;"Playera#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Datea#FCB5142px}} width:45%;"Contract terms
Bryan TrottierAugust 19, 19911-year contract
Ron FrancisOctober 25, 1991Multi-year contract

Other

a#FCB5142px}} width:30%;"Namea#FCB5142px}} width:25%;"Datea#FCB5142px}} width:45%;"Details
Bob JohnsonOctober 1, 1991Replaced as head coach due to medical condition
Pierre McGuireOctober 1, 1991Hired as assistant coach
Scotty BowmanOctober 1, 1991Hired as interim head coach
Howard BaldwinNovember 19, 1991Transfer of ownership
Morris Belzberg
Tom Ruta
Craig PatrickJanuary 30, 1992Re-signed as GM and VP to a 5-year contract
Peter TaglianettiJune 18, 1992Lost in [expansion draft](1992-nhl-expansion-draft) to Tampa Bay Lightning
Wendell YoungJune 18, 1992Lost in [expansion draft](1992-nhl-expansion-draft) to Tampa Bay Lightning

Draft picks

Pittsburgh's draft picks at the 1991 NHL entry draft.

a#FCB5142px}}"Rounda#FCB5142px}}"#a#FCB5142px}}"Playera#FCB5142px}}"Posa#FCB5142px}}"Nationalitya#FCB5142px}}"College/Junior/Club team (League)
116Markus NaslundLeft wingSwedenModo Hockey Ornskoldsvik (SEL)
238Rusty FitzgeraldCenterUnited StatesDuluth East H.S. (Minn.)
360Shane PeacockDefenseCanadaLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
482Joe TamminenCenterUnited StatesVirginia H.S. (Minn.)
5104Robert MelansonDefenseCanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)
6126Brian CliffordCenterUnited StatesNichols (N.Y. H.S.)
7148Ed PattersonRight wingCanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)
8170Peter McLaughlinDefenseUnited StatesBelmont Hill H.S. (Massachusetts)
9192Jeff LembkeGoaltenderUnited StatesOmaha Lancers (USHL)
10214Chris TokDefenseUnited StatesGreenway (Minn H.S.)
11236Paul DyckDefenseCanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
12258Pasi HuuraDefenseFinlandIlves Tampere (FNL)
[S](1991-nhl-supplemental-draft)22Greg CarvelCenterUnited StatesSt. Lawrence University (ECAC)

Farm teams

The IHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks finished second in the East Division with a 41-28-13 record. They defeated the Milwaukee Admirals and Kalamazoo Wings before being swept by the Kansas City Blades in the Turner Cup Finals. This finals loss came as a result of the Penguins recalling Jock Callander, Mike Needham, and Dave Michayluk to fill open spots left by injuries to both Mario Lemieux and Joe Mullen. Michayluk still won the Ironman Award by the IHL for playing in all of his team's games while displaying outstanding offensive and defensive abilities.

The East Coast Hockey League's Knoxville Cherokees finished last overall in the standings with a record of 20-36-8.

Media affiliates

Radio

a#FCB5142px}}"Flagship stationa#FCB5142px}}"Play-by-playa#FCB5142px}}"Color commentatora#FCB5142px}}"Studio host
KDKA-AM 1020 (main)
WDVE-FM 102.5 (backup)Mike LangePaul Steigerwald

Some of the games broadcast on WDVE because of KDKA-AM's broadcast conflict with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Television

a#FCB5142px}}"Local TVa#FCB5142px}}"Play-by-playa#FCB5142px}}"Color commentator
KDKA-TV 2
KBLMike LangePaul Steigerwald

References

References

  1. "1991-92 NHL Summary".
  2. "1988-89 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule and Results".
  3. "1989-90 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule and Results".
  4. "1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule and Results".
  5. . (1991-11-18). ["NHL OKs sale of Penguins"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/11/18/NHL-OKs-sale-of-Penguins/2372690440400/).
  6. "1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule".
  7. "1991–1992 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. "1991–1992 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  9. "1991–1992 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  10. "1991–1992 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  11. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". ProSportsTransactions.
  12. "NHL.com – NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
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